workplace
When we first set out to investigate this documentary, we had the hypothesis that professional environments, especially external to the creative industry, would have policies in which they may ask people to cover their tattoos. However, we were delightfully disproved. It has become more acceptable for people to have their tattoos on show and very few of our contributors’ workplaces had policy within them.
We believe that this is due to changing attitudes and as George put it in the interview below if they didn’t like your tattoo they would not hire you in the first place.
Connor’s and Keisha’s parents have contrasting jobs but both have the same outlook on their tattoos as do their workplaces. For more information videos below.
In some industry’s it is encouraged to be tattooed. For example one of our contributors is in the army and he said tattoos are very much part of the culture. However even they have rules some rules even if they are not rigorously enforced. As you can listen to below.
Cam is a black works artist. He became a tattoo artist after feeling inspired by getting his first tattoo. He was not enthused by the jobs in offices he had and once he had a tattoo it sparked a passion that hasn’t died. Cam also spoke about perspective in the work place as he felt that the view on tattoos are changing and that the stigma is mainly with the older generation.
Brandon’s style is tradition and is a big fan of sailor Jerry. When he was an apprentice at his first tattoo parlour his mentor told him to practise on his thighs which have subsequently become his favourite tattoos. Although he does not expect to e tattooing forever, as he states no one can, he stated that the best bit about being a tattoo artist was being able to put his art on someone’s skin.
The CIPDs website has an article on tattoos and their policy. Employers do have the right to ask staff to change their appearance to look professional as long it does not actively discriminate one group.
‘In simple terms, organisations do have a legal right to have policies around an employee’s appearance. As long as such policies do not unlawfully discriminate and apply equally to men and women then the managerial prerogative is strong in relation to the issue of corporate image — a view supported by much of the case law in this area.’
The article even mentions the petition that was posted online that got a large following. The petition was to allow Starbucks employees to have their tattoos visible. Due to this petition one of our contributors, Giggs can now display his tattoo whilst working with Starbuck.
Another industry was in which it is a must to have tattoos is being a tattoo artist. You wouldn’t trust a skinny chef you wouldn’t trust a tattoo less tattoo artist. We were lucky enough to get to speak to some tattoo artists about their industry.
We went and interviewed some members of the tooth and dagger team, Brandon and Cam, a tattoo parlour that was founded in November 2017. Brandon and Ben, another member of the team, both found themselves unemployed and it felt like serendipity and opened the shop. They built the majority of it by hand as Brandon speaks about below.
Within some companies there are still rules about tattoos such as within Georges place of work they can only have 30% of their tattoos. But most of their companies such as the one Nicola works for are fine with tattoos as long as they are not offensive. Which makes sense especially if the person is interacting with the General public. Although none of Gemma’s tattoos were on show when she was working with children their main concern was her piercing but that as due to health and safety and they said that it was her destion. Kath mentioned that id she were to meet someone who was an important client she would consider covering up so there is stil some stigma. But the majority of places were okay with it.
